Filed under: Drawing, Fleeting thoughts... | Tags: art, crafts, drawing, pouches, sewing
Last night, I attended the opening reception for a short “pop-up” drawing show in the South End. I have four drawings on exhibit, along with the works of many UBER TALENTED Boston artists: Chuck Holtzman, Sandra Allen, Barbara Grad, Linda Etcoff, Eugene Dorgan, Summer Wheat, and Conley Harris. Please check out all of their websites…the work is gorgeous. The show is curated by Conley Harris, and held in his studio space in the South End. I was SO thrilled to be included. These are really some of the top artists in Boston, so it was fantastic to see their work and to meet some of them. The show is open today (11/14) and tomorrow (11/15) from 11am to 5pm at 1140 Washington Street, Boston, 3rd floor. Go see it!
These are thumbnails of the work of Eugene Dorgan, Sandra Allen, Conley Harris, and myself. Dorgan does breathtaking charcoal portraits that are moody and compelling. Allen is a graphite pencil virtuoso who draws with otherworldly beauty, sensitivity, and scale. Harris’s rich and layered drawings seamlessly meld remnants of photography with layers of gouache to create fantastic “Nature Morte” works.
I’m SO sorry that I don’t have any pictures!!!! I forgot my ipod, which is what I typically use for photos. SIGH. At least I made it out of the house properly dressed, and not in pajamas. It’s tough being a suburban mom.
My other big achievement since I last posted is that I MADE A COAT. No joke! Here it is:
It’s wool, so it’s pretty warm. I started it with a pattern, but then the pattern was so bizarre…I had to make numerous modifications. It’s cute, right???? I even added the collar, which it didn’t have originally. Here is the inside:
Okay…THAT, I love.
In addition to this coat, I also made a couple of little pouches as gifts for some friends:
The coffee cup sketch is actually a screen print onto some printed fabric.
I do all of this stuff, and then I wonder why my house is a mess. Well, it’s messy because: a. I’m messy, and b. I dislike housekeeping. Simple! I also have enough stuff to fit into a house that is approximately double the size of the one that I am actually living in. My son is equally messy, which is clearly a sign that I am being an awful role model YET AGAIN. Luckily…my husband is pretty neat, or else we’d be in serious trouble. Why does my son seem to pick up my worst qualities? He’s messy, he can be grouchy/short tempered, and he scowls a lot. Hmm. At least he doesn’t have frizzy hair…yet.
If anyone out there is a “neat person”, I would greatly appreciate an “intervention” at my house to teach me how to be a neater person. If it involves throwing out any art supplies, fabric, or yarn…then, I’m afraid that you’ll have to leave. Feel free to take away the vacuum and my pots and pans…but leave the mohair yarn and fabric paint, thankyouverymuch.
I’m just going to rearrange some piles now so that I can get some work done…don’t mind me…
Filed under: Drawing, Fleeting thoughts... | Tags: art, camp, crafts, drawing, sewing, wood shop
Today is my son’s last day at camp. SOB!…sniff sniff…That means that next week, I have to be on mommy-duty 24/7. YIKES. Some people delight in that. For me, it puts me in a sort of low-grade panic. HOW are we going to pass the time??? HOW am I not going to go postal??? I’m sure by the end of summer, my son will be thrilled to go back to school and get away from me. I know that I would too, but…unfortunately, I’m stuck with me.
He has made some priceless creations at camp this year:
They have “woodshop” at camp. Isn’t this super cute? This will be used as the centerpiece for the head table at his wedding. (Just kidding…maybe…)
This is a tiny door. I suppose that we could put it at the base of a tree, as if it was the entry to a gnome house? Apparently, my son smacked his thumb with a hammer when making this. Ahh…this is the timeless injury which began when early man first started using tools! It’s 2014, and we still do it today.
Look at this ridiculous graphic that I found. What kind of moronic image is this? Who puts their thumb ON the nail???? Should that even be considered an accident??? Why do I immediately think of Congress when I see this? I know that doesn’t make sense, as something is actually HAPPENING in this image.
But I digress…my son’s last creation from yesterday:
I forgot to ask my son what this is. It looks like something that would be legal only in Colorado. I’m not sure what they’re teaching those kids at camp, but I can overlook it because they make him lunch. Yes, I’m THAT kind of mom. I’m just glad that there is no licensing exam for being a mom, or else I’d be undoubtedly parenting without a license.
So, yesterday was the reception for a show of my drawings. It was fun for me, because it is at my old office. These were some images of the show last Friday when I was setting it up:
There is a blog write up about the show here. It was great to see many of my former co-workers. I was also really happy that some of my non-architect friends came as well. I was kind of stressed about the show before I hung it, but I think that I had forgotten how nice everyone is at my old office. I could tell that I wasn’t used to getting out much in the adult world because I referred to someone’s water bottle as a “sippy cup.” WTH? My son doesn’t even USE sippy cups anymore. CLEARLY, you can take the mommy out of the house, but you can’t take the house out of the mommy. Perhaps someday scientists will find some correlation between Stop & Shop and early onset Alzheimer’s?
I wore one of my latest creations to the reception:
I’m pretty happy with it! My sewing skills are improving…thank god. It’s hard to work with silk. I’m realizing that silk chiffon is even worse, but I’ll show you that project when/if I finish it. And the back:
Do you think that I could sell these on Etsy? Or, am I the only person what would wear this kind of thing? Probably. Growing up, I was always the weird kid who dressed strangely. This clearly hasn’t changed with age. It’s less endearing now because people don’t think, “How cute!” anymore…instead its, “Why is that old, fat lady dressed like that?”
Because she’s cray cray…that’s why.
Time to get back to my life and death battle with silk chiffon…so far the score is: Silk Chiffon:3, Me:0.
Filed under: Drawing, Fleeting thoughts..., Sewing | Tags: art, arts, boston, colored pencil, crafts, Donald Trump, drawing, Machine quilting, quilt
My current excuse for not having seen any new art is that it’s sweltering hot here. I guess it’s going to be 97 deg F tomorrow with tons of humidity.
I know…
It gets hotter in Texas…the Sahara Desert…the surface of the sun, etc. But does it get hotter than the dark interior of my dark blue car???? Nooooo…I think not. I’ve been feeling too lethargic to cook lately, and I’m wondering if there is some way that I can prepare dinner by cooking it IN MY CAR??? Fried eggs on the dashboard? No, those aren’t vegan…damn! Tofu pups instead? What IS seitan anyway? It looks like a wet, sweatsock turned inside out. No? Well, I hope that it doesn’t TASTE like that. Anyhoo…as I can’t afford a real convection oven, or at least one that doesn’t have four wheels and an engine, I was thinking of possibly doing a lasagna. Do you think that it would cook faster in the glove compartment, or on the dash? Tough call.
So, I recently finished a drawing. FINALLY. I’ll show it to you in a minute, but before I do, I had to celebrate it’s completion by making a baby quilt. My FIRST quilt…mind you. Needless to say, the quilt is done, but the sewing machine is in the shop. I think that I scared it half to death with my shoddy sewing skills. The feed dogs won’t go up anymore. I think that they’re either hiding, or on strike.
So, here’s the quilt!
I know. It’s sooooo basic. Hey, at least it’s a friggin’ rectangle. This is machine quilted entirely. I’m much too impatient to even remotely consider hand sewing. Besides…the binding was hand sewn, and I nearly made a pincushion out of my left thumb with my incompetent needle handling (yes, I’ve heard of a thimble). I can’t imagine doing a whole quilt. (Patty, I bask in your quilting glory.) I feel itchy to do another quilt! Is that normal? (Don’t answer that.) Actually, as I am a mosquito and poison ivy magnet, I tend to be itchy in general.
The back:
Super simple!
While I was working away on this thing, my son brought home one of HIS creations from camp. Here it is:
Do you know what that is? No, it’s not vermin. It’s a PET ROCK!!! He proudly told me that it will require no feeding and care. He also explained that after adding the first piece of brown fur, he felt that his rock was cold and needed the black fur as well. It’s like a bad toupee…or if Donald Trump somehow found himself in the story of Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. Anyway, I love it and think that it’s hilarious. I’m also a sucker for anything with googly eyes.
Speaking of googly eyes, after months of slaving over the minutiae of my drawing, it’s finished.
Nameless Problem #2, Elizabeth Kostojohn, 2013, colored pencil on mylar
Sorry for the glare…photography is not one of my strong suits…
No, I have not gone off the deep end. I’m just expressing my domestic angst. I’ve already started another one in this series, and I am seriously hoping that it does NOT take me months to complete. I’m also hoping that I don’t decide to ever draw Doritos again. Don’t get me wrong…they’re delicious and I love orange, but really…
Okay, I will make a SERIOUS effort to see some art next week. Until then, I’ll just have to wander around the yard in a heat induced stupor. The hydrangeas are about the only things that haven’t completely shriveled up and died in this heat.
Speaking of withering neglect, my son correctly used the word “languish” in a sentence this week. He’s five! Well, he only get’s half credit…as after he commented on how our unused British pound coin will “languish”, he said, “What does ‘languish’ even mean?” What does “languish” mean??? Just look at mommy trying to bake lasagna in the Toyota!!! I’m glad that my culinary failings can prove useful by enriching my son’s developing vocabulary. Next, I’m going to teach him, “exasperate”, “lethargy”, and “ennui…”
Filed under: Felting | Tags: arts, crafts, felting, handmade, sweater, Wool
Okay. I had a side project going that has NOTHING to do with printmaking…painting…drawing…etc. I was working on a crazy felted sweater. I JUST FINISHED IT. I was so excited, that I put it on, even though it is still DAMP! I’m so thrilled with it…even though I know that most people will ask me why I am wearing what looks to be just a big pile of yarn. Philistines! It’s wooly poetry… perhaps in an e.e.cummings sort of way. What do you think? Too crazy? Not crazy enough? I have no problem wearing this…I just wonder how many birds will be following me…trying to collect scaps for building their nest. Please excuse that I could not wait to photograph it tomorrow in daylight…so, here I am in the downstairs bathroom…
Filed under: Fleeting thoughts..., printmaking, Sewing | Tags: Charlie Brown, Chicago, Christmas, Christmas tree, crafts, hand made, Holidays, ornaments, Real tree, Shopping, Tree
Hello all! I’ve been asked to try to provide progress images of what I’m up to. Here’s a serigraph (screen print), that is in progress:
Here some images of my holiday cards…relief print:
And here is something in progress…tree ornaments! This is a good segue to my next topic: tree debate!
Okay. When I was growing up, our family would sometimes get a real tree at Christmas time…and sometimes not. When we didn’t get a real tree, we used my mom’s FABULOUS silver aluminum tree. I believe that she and a girlfriend bought the tree when they had a tiny apartment in Chicago. Anyway, I loved that tree. Much to my horror, she threw it out one year WITHOUT ASKING ME FIRST. I know…get a life. Whatever. So, I’ve wanted one of those trees for ages. I got a vintage one from ebay last year, and I was SO excited. I think that my mom’s tree was better.., but this one is pretty cool. Okay, so the debate is: the rest of my family is not fond of the idea of a fake tree, never mind a silver one. So, I’m posting photos to get more opinions. Am I crazy, or is this thing kind of cool? Be honest. The first photo is just the plain tree…bare bones:
I know…it has a sort of Charlie Brown sparseness to it. But wait! What if I add some lights?
What if I go crazy, and add some PINK lights? (as we had in my childhood…should explain a lot about me)
I know. My husband is NOT going to go for this. But whyyyyyyyy??? Isn’t it COOL? No? Hmm…okay, I also made some silly, pillow ornaments for the tree. You may hate these as well, but give me your opinions on them:
And now, in the silver tree:
So, what do you think? Creepy? Cute? Blah? Yucky?
I like them! I know. Mies van der Rohe would throw up.
My son, inspecting the tree:
Filed under: Fleeting thoughts... | Tags: bazaar bizaare, boston, craft shows, crafts
So, this past Sunday, I went to the Bazaar Bizarre at the Cyclorama in Boston. SO MUCH FUN! I naturally wanted to buy everything, but I had to restrain myself. Here were some talented people! My favorite booths / people were:
The Spun Monkey – fabulous FELT! Amazing roving! Very nice people. Here is their blog: http://thespunmonkey.wordpress.com/
Raeburn Ink – amazing screenprinting apparel and sewn items. The designer has just written a book! I had to get a super cool cotton scarf with a hot pink screenprinted pattern on it. The t-shirts were amazing too. Here is her website: www.raeburnink.com
I wonder if I will ever make it to a venue like that? I’m sure that it’s super competitive to get in. Most everything was top notch…and unique. No boring Amy Butler baby bibs or anything. Very cool calendars, jewelry, ceramics…ahhh. I was in heaven. Did anyone else go? I think that there is a Bazaar Bizarre twice a year, so definitely go to the summer one!
http://bazaarbizarre.org/boston/
Thanks to my mother’s cousin (I believe), Ruth, in Australia, my felting today went MUCH better than yesterday. I mean MUUUUCH better. It’s smooth…the colors are nice…so, I haven’t lost faith in felting as a result. It might be the only way that I get some exercise, so maybe I should keep it up! Ruth provided me with some very helpful tips. I have seen her felting, which is lovely, so it was great to get her help.
Now that I’m doing printmaking…working with dyes…(more on that later), my hands are looking kind of gross. I mean, the edges of some of my fingernails are an odd bluish color. How gross is that? It’s so hard to get off. I always wonder if people think that I don’t bathe, or something, because my hands look so…colorful. Also, I always manage to cut myself in some way. Who knows. I know…that’s impossible to do from felting, so I must have done it when making dinner.
Filed under: Fleeting thoughts... | Tags: art, art classes, arts, boston, craft, crafts, decordova, printmaking, woodblock printing
So, this has been a week of ups and downs. I managed to work on Tuesday, which was great. It was one of those days where the stars felt like they were aligned. Things looked great, I was excited and happy. All good. Friday was the only other day this week that I could work. In contrast to Tuesday, Friday was slow and deflating. I’ve been working on a woodcut. It’s taking ages, and my arm/hands/brain ache from it. I’m hoping to use 4 colors, but I only managed to carve out 1.25 of the four colors. SIGH. Also, I was looking at some of my books, at the work that others do…and I was deflated. Everything was so beautiful! I felt a million miles away from it all. I’ve decided that the only solution to that is to take some more classes. Spending time with an artist, having him/her provide suggestions and feedback…is invaluable. I LOVE art classes. I mean…I REALLY LOVE art classes. I don’t love everything that I do, but there are always one or two things that make me happy. I am still taking printmaking now. It’s been great. We only have two classes left! Where does the time go? Now, I’m already scouring my class options for next semester. If only I had Mondays free! There is a fabulous class at the Decordova that I’d like to take. If anyone has taken any great local (metro-Boston) art classes, let me know!
slightly wonky 
